Bereft (Seven Year Itch #2)(19)

“Is it okay if I eat before I leave? I’m not a douche, but I can’t eat pasta in my car while I’m driving.”

“Sure, if you don’t mind my sniffles, or the possibility of me going homicidal.”

“Nah, you’re good. I’ve been around enough women to know how it is.”

Right, because he was manwhore. How could I forget? One day he’d be married and cheat on his wife, like Grayson had done to me.

I headed up to my room to change out of the ridiculous dress I thought I’d looked sexy in. Now I felt like a big fat mess. Chad would never respect me. He’d never see me as his equal or more. My chances of continuing the agency were probably next to none, yet I couldn’t tell him to leave. The truth was, I didn’t want to be alone. I’d rather share a meal with someone I’d thought of as the enemy than sit alone in my home – the home my husband had f*cked another woman in.

That’s how pathetic I was.





Chapter 9


Rachel


I’d definitely had too much to drink. Weighing in at a buck twenty, my small figure couldn’t handle alcohol. I never could. Like the bourbon had done the day before, I was starting to feel exhausted.

I knew I couldn’t pass out on my bed with company still downstairs, so I quickly tried to lift the dress over my head in order to change and get back to him. Unfortunately, the fastener got stuck in my hair. I yanked, willing to pull out strands to rectify the situation. The more I tugged, the more increasingly tangled it became.

This was just my luck. I managed to make it into the bathroom blindly. I fished around for the vanity drawer and felt for the pair of scissors. Once I had them in my hand, I tried my best to cut my way free. The dress was so tangled up, it was almost to my scalp. Never in my entire life had something like this occurred.

I took a chunk out of the dress, discovering afterwards I was still attached to another part of it. For the love of God! This is horrible.

When I tried to lower the dress back on, it only seemed to pull more hair. I sank down on the marble floor and began to growl out profanities. What was I to do? Did I yell downstairs for Chad to finish and find his way out? Did I dare ask him, of all people, to come upstairs and help me? The idea of it made me hate myself.

A man’s voice startled me. It was low and apologetic. “You okay in there?”

Chad was standing outside of my bedroom. He was being respectful while checking on my condition. He’d probably heard me losing my cool. “You’re going to laugh if I tell you what I’ve done.”

“I promise not to laugh. I heard you yelling. I’m not comfortable being in this part of your house, but if you were in trouble I’d never forgive myself.”

“Oh for shit’s sake,” I whispered under my breath. “Just come in and help me. I’ve already made a fool out of myself. It can’t get any worse than this.”

It was good I couldn’t see his reaction when he walked into the bathroom and found me in my predicament. I did hear a slight laugh before I felt his hands examining the problem. “How the hell did you do this?”

“If I knew, I’d be able to get out of it.”

“Did you cut off a piece?”

He’d obviously seen it on the floor. “I was trying to get free without having a bald spot. Can you please just hurry up. I’ve never felt more embarrassed in my life. I promise I won’t bother you ever again. You can forget about the business deal. I know when to give up, and if this isn’t a sign then I don’t know what is.”

Finally, I felt the fabric loosening. Chad lifted the rest off my head. The first thing I noticed was the way he was taking in my body. I quickly covered myself with my arms. “Turn around.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t help it. I’m a man, and you, well you have a great body, Rach. You’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about. When I said your husband was a fool, I meant it.”

He was quiet for a second, so I turned to look in his direction. He licked his lips and gave me a once over again. “I’m not someone you can fawn over, Chad. Get out of my bathroom.”

“Can’t a guy get a thanks?”

“Thank you and goodbye. It’s best if you leave now. I’ve had enough embarrassment for a lifetime.” In all honesty, I wanted to fill up my bathtub, take a bottle of bourbon, and drink until I sank to the bottom and ran out of air. This was devastating.

I backed Chad out of my room, but he never turned away from looking at me. Before I shut the door in his face, he reached out and stroked the side of my face. “Thanks for the good time, Rach. I think we’re going to make a great team.”

I was appalled. I stood there speechless as he turned and walked down the stairs. While I scrambled to dress and lock the door once he’d gone, I was shocked by the doorbell ringing. I pulled on a pair of cotton shorts I ran in, and a tank top, just to be clothed enough to answer it.

When I walked downstairs I was aware it wasn’t going to be Grayson or Stephanie. They both had a key. I wondered if my husband had sent me flowers, but then again it was getting late, and I was pretty sure the delivery company didn’t work past a certain hour.

I found Chad standing in the foyer. He was smiling when he saw me, once again checking out my body inappropriately. I rolled my eyes and headed to the door, determined to kick him out, and reject whoever was on the other side.